Central Texas Hit By New Flash Floods As Death Count Rises

2 days ago A new onslaught of flash floods has torn through Central Texas, leading to the evacuation of thousands of residents as the death toll climbs to 132. Heavy rain in already devastated regions was the cause of these most recent flash floods, triggering renewed rescue efforts. Kerr County, a region greatly affected by the devastating July 4 flash floods, had rescue operations temporarily halted amid safety concerns. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed rescue operations were underway in the state's most at-risk regions, including San Saba County, which experienced nine inches of rainfall. Abbott later said in a social media post that dozens have already been rescued in the areas surrounding the Lampasas River, which surged by 23ft in under four hours. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has faced criticism after reports that she held up flood response times with her restrictive new FEMA directives. Noem defended her department, saying, “Within just an hour or two after the flooding, we had resources from the Department of Homeland Security there”.